Here’s my final prediction of the teams that will make it to the NBA playoffs in 2016. And, it’s only 17 days til the NBA Season starts!
Milwaukee Bucks- This team garnered much attention after their acquisition of Center Greg Monroe. Their starting lineup, regardless of whether they start off in a more traditional lineup or a small-ball lineup, is massive. None of their starting 5 will be under 6 ft. 6 inches, which is a boon for a team that will be one of the best defensive teams in basketball. The Bucks will take a step forward this season, although their spot in the playoff field may not show it at first glance. But from top to bottom they are clearly a better team. The ability to bring in quality guys off the bench will allow the Bucks to keep their starters fresher over the marathon that is the NBA season. This team will have a much better shot at moving beyond the first round this season, but as is the case with every team, their health and their ability to acclimate their bigger pieces into their system is what will either propel the Bucks out of mediocrity or leave them in No-Man’s-Land.
Toronto Raptors- The Raptors were a disappointment in the playoffs last year. This disappointment goes well beyond being swept by the Wizards, it’s the manner in which they got swept that gives me a reason to think there could be some carry over this season. I don’t think this scenario is likely, but it is something to keep an eye on if the Raptors don’t start off relatively strong this season. This is another team that did well for themselves this offseason. Signing DeMarre Carroll will give this team another dynamic wing/small-ball power forward, and adding Luis Scola and Corey Joseph should make the bench a bit better as well. Their starting five of Kyle Lowry, Demar Derozan, Terrance Ross, DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas is very good, but will it be good enough to carry them further than last year? Probably not, but this should be an improved team overall.
Atlanta Hawks- There is no doubt in my mind that this team will take a small step back in the Eastern Conference this season. The coaching will still be outstanding and cover up their lack of elite talent (outside of Al Horford, who has been underrated for quite a while now), but losing DeMarre Carroll is a significant blow to this team. The roster is full of good, quality players, that isn’t what is in question. They’re just short of another marquee player to take them to true contender status. The Hawks suffered from very unfortunate timing with regard to Thabo Sefolosha’s injury, which was a bizarre incident that included charges of resisting police (he was found not guilty in his recently concluded trial). Horford was also banged up during the Eastern Conference Finals as well. These injuries exposed them and their lack of elite star-power. I believe this team will play hard and they will be a tough out come playoff time, but they are without a doubt a weaker team as they are constituted right now.
Indiana Pacers- Indiana almost made Playoffs last season without having their star Paul George available for most of the season. Having him back from the get-go and signing Monta Ellis will make them a better team. The problem for the Pacers is that the rest of the Conference has also made improvements, and their improvements trump the Pacer’s changes as far as I can tell at this point in time. Losing Roy Hibbert won’t be as big of a factor for the Pacers as some might think; He will be missed on defense, but I believe that Frank Vogel will be able to come up with a scheme to mitigate the loss to some degree. Offensively, Hibbert was candidly a non-factor. The Pacers have a decent bench with C.J. Miles, Ian Mahimi and Rodney Stuckey. In the end, they will run into many of the same problems that the Hawks will encounter. Paul George will make this team significantly better, but not good enough to avoid a likely first round exit.
Seventeen more days! Can’t hardly wait!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR – STEVE HARVEY, SENIOR COLUMNIST
Steve, call sign Rookie, is a US Coast Guard veteran and a student at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. He is pursuing a BA in Digital Media Production and also participates in intercollegiate athletics. Rookie has an AA degree in journalism from San Diego Mesa Community College, and serves as the Technical Skills Editor and a writer for the Net Set blog.
